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THE ENGLISH LEAGUE,
It was announced on Monday that
the premierships (or, as they are
known in England, the championships)
of the principal leagues had' fallen to
Manchester United and West Brom
wlch Albion respectively, with' Aston
Villa and Bolton Wanderers as run
ners-up. The results in the first divi
sion were expected, but to soccer fol
lowers out here the ascent of West
Bromwlch to the head of their divi
sion comes as a surprise. When the
last mall left they were standing third
from top, and had just been defeated
by Chelsea, and everything pointed to
the latter club winning 'the first posi
tion easily, as they had then^ over
hauled Bolton, and had the advantage
of two games in hand. It seems that
their strenuous pursuit of tbo Epgttsh
Cup proved disastrous to' their stay
ing powers, and that. they have been'
beaten too . often , In . their , 'remaining
matches to. ensure promotlpn. Consi
dering their great wealth and attrac
tive powers, they must be deeply, dis
appointed at their second failure, for
it will be remembered they just miss
ed promotion last year on the' always
unsatisfactory system of goa| average.
West Bromwlch began the season so
badly that once they were ten down'
In the list, and promotion seemed re
mote, but since Christmas they have
.forged ahead and lost very rarely,' They
must have played in brilliant style to
win the championship, and their re
turn to the higher grade is doubtless
immensely popular, as they are one of
England's oldest, clubs, and were one
of the original 12 of the League form
ed, in 18S9, now 20 clubs strong. They
have been in the second division near
ly eight years, though thoy have sev
eral times only missed promotion by
fractions. Bolton alternate between
the two divisions, and have done a lot
of; rising and falling; but they
nearly always proved superior,
to- the general class of club
in lower division. ? They led this divi
sion; near|y a.11 the season, only occa
sionally being deposed. It will seem
lik.e old times to the league to hear
the . cries of the 'Trotters' and
''.Throstles' again. Manchester United
are no strangers to the premiership.
They and Newcastle United are un
doubtedly the greatest exponents of
the soccer code In the world. They
'finished up second to Aston Villa last'
year, but now have .their revenge ovei
the ^Birmingham Club, who this timv
take-second place. Both teams havo
played consistently well, and. should
have dprie better Mn the; English Cup
competition than they did. It should
be noted that the league contests In-''
volye 88 matches,'. so jt Is airealtest
of, ,.a club's, strength and ability*
whereas the cup is a hazard, and much'
depends upon the luck of the draw.
It., wis long since ? expected that
'Bristol City would lose their position.
They did nothing worthy of their re
putation. They are no strangers to
the lower grade, and after overhauling
their team will .'probably get back
.again In another season. The descent
of Nottingham Forest. Is unexpected,
.but not surprising as. they /.were near
the bottom rung when the mail left.
Of -those .threatened with relegation
they were fancied to haye a 'good
chance/of escaping. They, too, have
had seasons in the second division, a
curious, feature of situation being that
certain clubs appear to have a- mono-
poly of the smiles and arrows of for
tune. . The finalists of the English
.Cup haye probably finished among the
leaders' of the league, say fourth and
fifth positions. :?.?'? .
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